Multi-gain data processing

Abstract

Systems and methods of processing data generated using multi-gain detectors are disclosed. These systems and methods include separate gain images and separate offset images associated with each dynamic range of a multi-gain detector. These images are applied to multi-gain raw data to generate multi-gain corrected data. Some embodiments of the invention further include systems and methods of generating and using a multi-gain look-up table configured for generating viewable data from multi-gain corrected data. Some embodiments of the invention further include systems and methods of generating a global gain ratio for converting multi-gain data to non-multi-gain data.

1. A data acquisition system comprising:
 a plurality of multi-gain detectors, each of the plurality of multi-gain detectors configured to generate an element of raw multi-gain data, each raw multi-gain data element including a scalar value and a flag indicating an associated dynamic range; 
 coupled to the detectors, memory configured to store the raw multi-gain data elements, a first gain factor image, and a second gain factor image, the first gain factor image representing gain factors associated with a first dynamic range of each of the plurality of multi-gain detectors, the second gain factor image representing gain factors associated with a second dynamic range of each of the plurality of multi-gain detectors; and 
 coupled to the memory, a processor configured to correct the raw multi-gain data elements for detector gain, the detector gain correction being responsive to the dynamic range of each raw multi-gain data element, the first gain factor image, and the second gain factor image; wherein: 
 the memory further comprises a single multi-gain lookup table configured for simultaneously converting corrected multi-gain data directly to viewable normalized non-multi-gain data, wherein: 
 said table is indexed by corrected multi-gain data; 
 individual index values include hits configured to he matched with said scalar values and at least one bit configured to be matched with a flag indicating dynamic range; and 
 said converting comprises both conversion of corrected multi-gain data to non-multi-gain data and simultaneous normalization of the non-multi-gain data to viewable data suitable for display to a user or for further processing. 
 
     
     
       2. The data acquisition system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of multi-gain detectors include dual-gain detectors. 
     
     
       3. The data acquisition system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of multi-gain detectors are configured to operate in a dynamic gain switching mode. 
     
     
       4. The data acquisition system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of multi-gain detectors are configured to operate in a dual read sampling mode. 
     
     
       5. The data acquisition system of  claim 1 , wherein the detectors are arranged in a two-dimensional array and the memory is further configured to store a first two-dimensional offset image and a second two-dimensional offset image, the first offset image including offsets associated with the first dynamic range of each of the plurality of multi-gain detectors, the second offset image including offsets associated with the second dynamic range of each of the plurality of multi-gain detectors. 
     
     
       6. The data acquisition system of  claim 5 , wherein the processor is further configured to correct the raw multi-gain data elements for detector offset, the detector offset correction being responsive to the dynamic range of each raw multi-gain data element, the first offset image, and the second offset image. 
     
     
       7. The data acquisition system of  claim 1 , wherein each raw multi-gain data element further includes at least one bit indicating the associated dynamic range. 
     
     
       8. The data acquisition system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of multi-gain detectors comprise a two-dimensional array of detectors, the first gain factor image is two-dimensional, and the second gain factor image is two-dimensional. 
     
     
       9. The data acquisition system of  claim 1 , wherein the detectors detect x-rays, and the processor is further configured to generate data viewable as a two-dimensional image from the generated corrected data. 
     
     
       10. The data acquisition system of  claim 1 , further comprising a display for viewing the viewable normalized multi-gain data, and said viewable data is normalized to a category from the group of categories consisting of:
 a log scale; 
 a particular data size; 
 gray scale; 
 color levels of the display; 
 a user specified range. 
 
     
     
       11. A data acquisition system comprising:
 a plurality of multi-gain detectors, each of the plurality of multi-gain detectors configured to generate an element of raw multi-gain data, each raw multi-gain data element including a scalar value and a flag indicating an associated dynamic range: 
 coupled to the detectors, memory configured to store the raw multi-gain data elements, a first gain factor image, and a second gain factor image, the first gain factor image representing gain factors associated with a first dynamic range of each of the plurality of multi-gain detectors, the second gain factor image representing gain factors associated with a second dynamic range of each of the plurality of multi-gain detectors; and 
 coupled to the memory, a processor configured to correct the raw multi-gain data elements for detector gain, the detector gain correction being responsive to the dynamic range of each raw multi-gain data element, the first gain factor image, and the second gain factor image; wherein: 
 the memory further comprises a multi-gain lookup table configured for converting corrected multi-gain data directly to viewable normalized non-multi-gain data; and 
 said converting comprises both conversion of corrected multi-gain data to non-multi-gain data and normalization of the non-multi-gain data to viewable data suitable for display to a user or for further processing; wherein: 
 the multi-gain lookup table includes a first set of records configured for converting data generated using the first dynamic range and a second set of records configured for converting data generated using the second dynamic range. 
 
     
     
       12. The data acquisition system of  claim 11 , wherein the second set of records is related to the first set of records by a global gain ratio. 
     
     
       13. A detection system comprising:
 a plurality of multi-gain detectors, each of the plurality of multi-gain detectors configured to generate an element of raw multi-gain data, each raw multi-gain data element including a scalar value and at least one bit indicating a dynamic range; 
 coupled to the detectors, a processor configured to correct the raw multi-gain data to corrected multi-gain data; and 
 coupled to the processor, memory configured to store the corrected multi-gain data, and to store first and second gain factor images representing gain factors associated with a first and second dynamic range respectively of each of the plurality of multi-gain detectors, said memory further comprising a single multi-gain lookup table, the multi-gain lookup table configured for simultaneously converting the corrected multi-gain data directly to normalized viewable non-multi-gain data, wherein: 
 said converting comprises both conversion of corrected multi-gain data to non-multi-gain data and simultaneous normalization of the non-multi-gain data to viewable data suitable for display to a user or for further processing, said table is indexed by corrected multi-gain data, and individual index values include bits configured to be matched with said scalar values and at least one bit configured to be matched with a dynamic range. 
 
     
     
       14. The detection system of  claim 13 , further comprising a control system coupled to the processor. 
     
     
       15. A detection system comprising:
 a plurality of multi-gain detectors, each of the plurality of multi-gain detectors configured to generate an element of raw multi-gain data, each raw multi-gain data element including a scalar value and at least one bit indicating a dynamic range; 
 coupled to the detectors, a processor configured to correct the raw multi-gain data to corrected multi-gain data; and 
 coupled to the processor, memory configured to store the corrected multi-gain data, and to store first and second gain factor images representing gain factors associated with a first and second dynamic range respectively of each of the plurality of multi-gain detectors, said memory further comprising a multi-gain lookup table, the multi-gain lookup table configured for converting the corrected multi-gain data directly to normalized viewable non-multi-gain data, wherein said converting comprises both conversion of corrected multi-gain data to non-multi-gain data and normalization of the non-multi-gain data to viewable data suitable for display to a user or for further processing, wherein the multi-gain lookup table includes a first set of records configured for converting data generated using the first dynamic range of the multi-gain detectors, and a second set of records configured for converting data generated using the second dynamic range of the multi-gain detectors. 
 
     
     
       16. The detection system of  claim 15 , wherein the second set of records is related to the first set of records by a global gain ratio. 
     
     
       17. The detection system of  claim 16 , wherein the global gain ratio is a calculated statistical representation of individual gain characteristics of each of the plurality of multi-gain detectors. 
     
     
       18. The detection system of  claim 16 , wherein the global gain ratio is representative of individual gain ratios associated with members of the plurality of multi-gain detectors.